Uncle Sam has some new diet and fitness advice for Americans, and it's not what most of us want to hear. Think you get enough exercise, eat a good variety of healthy foods, and keep dietary splurging to a minimum? Think again.

The government's new dietary guidelines attempt to correct some imbalances in the typical American diet by placing stricter limits on meats, grains, sugar, and unhealthy fats...

Even when intentions are good, the demands of everyday life can get in the way of healthy eating, says MIT Medical nutritionist Anna Jasonides, R.D.

In the interest of science, several MIT Medical employees, and, in two cases, members of their households, agreed to spend five days attempting to follow the government's newly updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005.

Following the new nutritional guidelines isn't easy, so why should you try it?

In early January, nearly 1,200 members of the MIT community-students, faculty, staff, affiliates, alumni, retirees, spouses, and partners-shook off the winter doldrums and got moving.